Spencer Crawford held on $1M bond in killing of Angus Gaudin, 17

The 19-year-old accused of killing a Boulder teen at a campsite near Nederland early Wednesday told paramedics he was under the influence of LSD, mushrooms and "moonshine" when he stabbed Angus Gaudin, 17, because the victim had a machete and was going to "kill everyone," according to court records.

But the one eyewitness cited in a search warrant affidavit prepared by Boulder County sheriff's detectives apparently made no mention of Gaudin being armed, telling investigators he was talking to both Boulder teens when the suspect, Spencer Crawford, "took out a knife and stabbed Angus in the chest with it."

Gaudin called out, "You stabbed me," then fell to the ground, according to the affidavit.

Elijah Bent, who identified himself as Gaudin's best friend and a former New Vista High School classmate, said he was on the fateful camping trip, but had gone to bed earlier that night. He told the Camera in an interview Thursday that he awoke to find Gaudin dying on the ground.

"I went up to him and just said, 'These are my last words, so thanks for being my friend and I will see you in the next life,'" Bent said. "Then I could feel his spirit leaving and I knew he was gone."

Crawford, a New Vista graduate, is being held at the Boulder County Jail on $1 million bond on suspicion of second-degree murder. He appeared briefly in court at the jail Thursday for his bond setting, and is due to be formally charged Tuesday.

According to the sheriff's office, deputies and emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the 5000 block of Ridge Road near Nederland at 3 a.m. Wednesday on a report of stabbing. There, they discovered a group of 11 people who were friends from New Vista who had camped in the area overnight.

Gaudin -- who was identified as the victim by the Boulder County Coroner's Office on Thursday -- was found by deputies with a stab wound to his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to court records.

'Erratic behavior and statements'

Deputies learned that Crawford had fled the scene, but found him nearby, according to the affidavit. He was naked, and deputies "believed he was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol due to his erratic behavior and statements."

In addition to Crawford's alleged statements to the paramedics, the eyewitness interviewed by detectives said Crawford and Gaudin "were all drinking homemade whiskey he called 'moonshine.'" The witness also said Crawford and others "had taken a substance similar to LSD, which he called LSA."

New Vista student Courtney Crosby -- who also said she was on the camping trip -- told the Camera that both Crawford and Gaudin took drugs and consumed alcohol before the stabbing, and added that Crawford "wasn't himself."

Sheriff's Cmdr. Scott Williams confirmed that detectives are investigating allegations that both the suspect and the victim were using LSD at the time of the stabbing.

"He would never do something like this," Crosby said of Crawford.

Gaudin was "happy and excited" at the campsite when Crosby saw him, she added.

Crosby said she didn't see the actual altercation or stabbing, but came upon the scene just after it had happened.

"I heard screams," she said. "I was wondering if it was a (expletive)-up joke. It was really hard to believe this kind of thing happened."

Bent, who said he didn't see any drug use before he went to sleep, described the scene as "pretty intense."

He said his group of friends often went camping, and that he and Gaudin knew Crawford, but that this was the first time he can recall that Gaudin and Crawford were on the same camping trip.

'Really heartfelt, beautiful person'

Gaudin, who transferred from New Vista to a private school in February 2012, was into heavy-metal music and often wore a trench coat and heavy boots, Bent said -- but added that his friend's tough exterior belied his personality.

"When I first met him, I thought, 'Wow, that kid looks very interesting,'" Bent said with a laugh. "But once you got to know him, he was a really heartfelt, beautiful person with lots of love. He was one of the most accepting, loving, amazing people I ever met."

David Bent, Elijah Bent's father, said Gaudin often was at his family's house and that he viewed him like a son.

"We're heartbroken that he is gone," David Bent said. "He was a real quiet kid, real strong and tough looking, but with a really warm heart. As a father, I was impressed by the way he always looked me in the eye. I really felt he was such a solid kid...

"He was struggling to find his way as a teenager, but just a great kid."

Amy Menell, a friend of Gaudin's mother who has known him since he was in third grade, said Gaudin was always very mature for his age.

"We always had conversations," she said. "Never with Angus was it what a stereotypical teenage experience would be with grunts. We would engage in these real discussions."

She said news of his passing was a shock, especially when she heard what investigators believe happened.

"I'm still in shock, and I just can't bear to think that his last moments were marred by horror and rage," Menell said. "There aren't really any words for me to describe my feelings for him and for his parents, who I love very much."

David Bent said Gaudin was getting into metalworking, and would make bikes out of old construction rebar.

"I just remember seeing him riding around town in big boots and on this crazy looking bike," he said. "He was just the sweetest kid inside."

David Bent said his family also knew Crawford: "Spencer had babysat for us. I thought he was a good kid, too," he said

Elijah Bent said he will always remember the week before his friend was killed, when he and Gaudin took a weeklong camping trip to the SonicBloom music festival in Georgetown.

"I got to spend his last week on this planet with him," Bent said.

'Must have been the drugs'

Many of Crawford's friends attended his court appearance at the Boulder County Jail on Thursday and said that he is not a violent person.

"I was definitely shocked," Harry Newkumet said as he waited outside the jail prior to the hearing. "We love the kid, and want to be here to support him in any way we can."

Crawford graduated from New Vista in November 2012, according to Boulder Valley School District officials, and is employed as a clerk at Lucky's Market in north Boulder.

Aleanna Collins works with Crawford at Lucky's and also was a classmate at New Vista. She said he always was a happy person.

"He would walk in and tell you about his life and what was going on with him," Collins said. "We would talk for hours."

Melanie Vellinga said she's known Crawford for four years and can't believe he did what he's being accused of.

"I didn't believe it, and I still don't believe it," she said. "He's one of the nicest people you will ever meet. I don't think he has ever been mean to anybody."

Another one of Crawford's friends, Charlie Shanahan, said that if the allegations are true, drugs must be to blame.

"He was a good guy, a good friend," he said. "It must have been the drugs and alcohol. Without this, it never would have happened."

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